D.I.Y.

Do It Yourself. I try to live by this credo. It happens naturally as a maker of art. I use my hands, experience, knowledge with a dose of experimentation to create. In the matter of life skills, I work to accomplish a certain amount of self-reliance too. I can’t replace the brakes on my car like my neighbor just did (he said it was easy — just a matter of four bolts!), but I can pick up trash along the beach to be helpful to the environment, replace a minor broken part of a toilet or phone the county to make them aware of excess roadwear from constant construction trucks rumbling through our neighborhood.

I'm sewing again. I was encouraged to practice making this pattern on material I already had in my stash. This way, I can confirm the proper fit, buff up my seamstress skills and familiarize myself with the pattern before attempting it on the newly purchased (slightly more expensive) fabric. It was great advice. I now fully trust I can successfully make another (even better).

Have you watched the new crafting competition show 'Making It" on television? I've enjoyed seeing the imagination, creativity, and variety of skills the artists unfold during each episode. Risks are encouraged; the results are incredible! A DIY attitude can be quite fulfilling. It’s satisfying to complete a project or task on my own. Sometimes it takes just the right tools and a trip to the local hardware store. Asking questions and advice from other experts helps build my own confidence so I can achieve success. And if my first attempts are not fruitful, I try to learn from the experience for the next attempt. A ‘can do’ attitude helps me become less and less fearful of failure.

Any time I receive a compliment on a sweater I've made, it feels great. I enjoy the reaction I get when I say, "I made this"! My years of stitching yarn into garments is a DIY skill that has taught me tons of lessons. If I've made a mistake, or don't like how the pattern is progressing, I will rip back the offending stitches and begin again. I know I enjoy the process of knitting just as much as completing a project. And when I finish one pattern to then begin another, I want to wear what I knit and be able to say, "I did it myself".

I’m not perfect. It’s easy to fall into complaining and wanting someone else to solve a problem without getting personally involved. But if we all take some responsibility and do our part to DIY, it benefits not only us, but the greater community. What have you done for yourself lately?

Listen.

This past week has been a whirlwind, a good whirlwind. I shared time out of the studio with friends and future family which directly impacted the rest of my time with clay. I’ve got lots of ideas and projects in various stages of production for an upcoming group show and a wonderful shop in the South. Special orders were finalized and shipped, new ones were begun.

I received two surprise and considerate gifts this week. My former neighbors were in town visiting and stopped by. They now live in Arizona and brought me a mug from my favorite coffee shop! They know me well! The hat/scarf set was sent to me by a friend from Hilton Head. We have spent yarn time together stitching and talking. Her out-of-the-blue gift and note were so thoughtful! 

When I work, I generally listen to programs on National Public Radio. It’s a habit that started in my first home studio when Diane Rehm (now retired) was on the air daily. I learned something each time I listened to her broadcast. This exposure introduced me to other interesting programs offered by Public Radio stations across the country. 

I revisited this stacking bowl set based on a request for an upcoming group show. I really like it and am glad to have the opportunity to make it again.

Sometimes I listen to music when I work. It’s easy to play what I like on my ITunes playlist. Emotions, memories, sing-alongs and occasional dancing break out when music is my studio background. 

Do you have a listening suggestion for me? What song inspires you? Have you read a good book lately? What other listening opportunities am I missing? Any podcasts you'd recommend? Click on the photo to tell me your suggestion!

Occasionally, I’ll listen to a book. My friend Whitney has offered to help me with a sewing project. We spent an afternoon at an incredible fabric shop in Virginia picking out material and a pattern for me to make.  While we were together, she suggested  I read, The Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (who also wrote Eat, Pray, Love). I downloaded it from the library and listened throughout the week. It’s about the concept of creativity and creative thinking. It resonated. I’m going to listen to it again. I know I can learn more from a second ‘reading’. 

Look who else was attracted to this coneflower in my garden. The beauty and colors of nature often stop me in my tracks. 

I think I’m a good listener, but I know I can improve my skills. When I listen, my mind sometimes jumps around and I lose concentration on what is being shared with me (especially if I'm multi-tasking). I could blame some of that on my creative mind getting sparked as information is fed to it, and fear I’ll forget those inspirations if I let go, but strong focus while listening is important too.